Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

Jaclyn straightened her shoulders and rose to her feet. There was nothing left to say. For now. The law partners stood with her. “Gentlemen, thank you for your time.”

Dennis extended his hand to her. She winced at the pity in his pale blue eyes. “Good luck, Jackie. We hope you’re able to rebuild the team.”

Gregory escorted her back to the lobby. “The Monarchs have been good for the community. The franchise brought a lot of jobs in addition to excitement to Brooklyn. I hope you’re able to keep it here.”

She considered the senior partner. Her employer, Jonas & Prather Legal Associates, had negotiated with Bonner & Taylor on behalf of their clients in the past. Bonner & Taylor had always been diligent in protecting their clients’ interests but fair in their dealings. “Do you have any advice for me?”

“We care about what happens to the community. But our client’s interests have to come first.” Gregory gave her a sympathetic smile. “Make the play-offs.”

“I’ll do my best.” But it wouldn’t be easy with her partners working against her. The weight on her shoulders was steadily increasing.

2

“Jackie. I wasn’t expecting you.” Gerald Bimm looked as surprised as he sounded.

Jaclyn’s franchise partner was old enough to be her father. Her grandparents had raised her to respect her elders. But that upbringing struggled to assert itself over her nearly overpowering urge to blacken Gerald’s beady brown eyes.

“I don’t know why not, Gerry. You knew I was meeting with Bonner and Taylor today.” Her voice was cool, masking the anger that was eager to break free.

Gerald opened the door wider and let Jaclyn inside. He closed the door behind her. “So?”

Jaclyn hoped counting to ten would help her regain control. She held her ground in the center of the spacious ivory and blue entrance of Gerald’s Park Slope home. “Didn’t you think the lawyers would tell me you and Bert are planning to move the team out of Brooklyn?”

Gerald’s eyes moved over each of her features as though trying to gauge her reaction to whatever lie he was concocting. Jaclyn in turn contemplated him, from his wavy, dark brown hair peppered with gray to his elegant mocha features. Tall and lean, Gerald was an attractive man. At fifty-seven, he appeared at least ten years younger. But his looks were marred by her growing awareness of just how treacherous he was. Gerald’s betrayal would have broken her grandfather’s heart.

Jaclyn gripped her purse strap and asked again. “Didn’t you think Bonner and Taylor would tell me they’d spoken to you and Bert?”

“No, I didn’t.” His bare feet moved silently across the stone flooring, carrying him closer but still out of her reach. Smart man. Jaclyn couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t punch his lights out.

Her brows knitted. Her eyes narrowed. “Where do you think you’re taking the Brooklyn Monarchs?”

Gerald slipped his hands into the pockets of his black designer jeans. His white sweater shifted loosely around him as he shrugged his broad shoulders. “Let’s sit down and talk about this. I’ll fix you a drink.”

He started to lead her farther into his home, but her voice stopped him.

“This isn’t a social call. I want to know what your plans are for the Monarchs.” Jaclyn struggled to keep her voice even. If only her father had survived. Then he’d have confronted Gerald as a peer. Jaclyn was at a disadvantage, confronting a man old enough to be her parent.

A lopsided smile curved Gerald’s wide mouth. “We’re looking at a couple of growing television markets.”

“Where?”

“They’re scattered around the country.”

Jaclyn swallowed a scream. “You don’t have a destination in mind? Give me a name, Gerry. Just one name.”

He shrugged again. “Nevada.”

Jaclyn’s mind went blank. “Nevada? You want to move the Brooklyn Monarchs to Nevada?”

Gerald cocked his head. “Nevada Monarchs has a nice ring to it, wouldn’t you agree?”

A red haze clouded her vision. “No. I would not. If you want to leave Brooklyn, Gerry, Godspeed. But you’re not taking my team with you.”

Gerald raised his brows. “Your team? I thought we were partners.”

“So did I.” Blood roared in her ears. “You and Bert must have been planning this for years.”

“What do you mean?” Even now, he was trying to mislead her.